Until when are the relatives of a niftar considered onenim?

An onen--a person who lost one of the seven close relatives and has not yet buried the deceased--may not perform any mitzvos. The Talmud Yerushalmi explains that he may not be involved in mitzvos because he must be involved in the burial arrangements. Also, doing other mitzvos gives the impression that a person is indifferent about the passing of a close family member. Some Rishonim say that if there are other people involved in the burial, one may choose to perform mitzvos. Most poskim say that the halacha does not follow this view. If the deceased is transferred to the care of the local Chevra Kadisha and all arrangements have been settled, the family members are no longer considered onenim. Some poskim say that if the family will be joining the procession to the burial, they still have the status of onenim.


ס"ק א, ד, ה, ו ו־ז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 7 ו־21





Does an onen wash before eating bread?


Although an onen is exempt from mitzvos, he may not engage in forbidden activities. He does not make brochos over food, since it is only forbidden to eat without a brocha if there is a mitzvah to recite a brocha. However, he must still wash before eating bread, wash mayim achronim, and wash upon arising and after using the restroom. A brocha is not recited. He is permitted to wear a tallis koton and study the halochos which are relevant to him. The poskim disagree about whether an onen is permitted to think about Torah. During Sefiras Haomer, an onen may count without a brocha and continue counting on future days with a brocha.


ס"ק ד וביה"ל ד"ה מי; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 2 ,4 ו־5




Which tefilos may a mourner say after the burial?


After the first layer of dirt is poured over the body, the mourner becomes obligated in mitzvos. If it is close to zman Kriyas Shema or tefilah, he must daven immediately, so as not to forfeit these mitzvos. If the burial only began after zman tefilah, he may still daven Pesukei D’zimrah, Birchos Kriyas Shema and Shemoneh Esrei until midday. The poskim disagree about whether he may recite Birchos Hashachar. The halacha is that they should not be said, except for Birchos HaTorah and the brochos that are not morning-related (i.e. shelo asani goy, isha and eved). Those may be said any time during the day. For one who was an onen throughout the entire period that Shacharis could be recited, there is no obligation of tashlumin (making up for it) at Mincha. In a case where the relative passed away after the obligation of Shacharis had already begun (but the mourner hadn’t davened yet) and the burial took place in the afternoon, tashlumin is done during Mincha. In addition, all the Birchos Hashachar may be said after the burial.


ס"ק ד'

  • From half an hour before alos hashachar, beginning a meal is forbidden. There is a concern that one may become involved in the meal and forget to daven. As of alos hashachar, eating is forbidden altogether, since it is forbidden to eat from the time that davening is permitted until one davens.


  • It is forbidden to begin any lengthy activity from alos hashachar until one has said Kriyas Shema and davened. There is a concern that a person might become so involved in the activity that he could forget to daven. Some say that one may not begin such an activity from half an hour before alos.


  • A person who is involved in a mitzvah is exempt from performing another mitzvah, even if it means missing the second mitzvah entirely. Therefore, if one is involved in an important public service which cannot be done by someone else, he is exempt from Shema until he completes the task. 




  • When does an onen recite Havdalah?








  • Can an onen daven in Shul on Yom Tov morning?








  • Which tefilos may be said next to a mes?
PLEASE NOTE:  The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
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